Life-saving garment



2 Sheets-Shee t 1.

(No Model.)

G. A. HILER; LIFE SAVING GARMENT,

No. 382306., Patented May 8, 1888.

J72 7672 for.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.

G. A. HILER LIFE SAVING GARMENT.

No. 382,306. Patented May 8, 1888.

N. PETERS. Pholo-Lilhogmphzr, Washington, D. C.

NHED

GEORGE A. HILER, OF GRAND HAVEN, MICHIGAN.

LIFE-SAVING GAEMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 382,306, dated May 8,1888.

Application filed August 4,1887. Serial No. 246,107. (No model.)

To ail whom it' may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. HILEE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Grand Haven, in the county of Ottawa and State of Michigan,have invented certain new and use-' ful Improvements in Life-SavingGarments;

and I do declare thefollowing to be a full, clear,

'on vessels and in marine service.

The invention consists of a two-part waterproof garment-viz., a bodyportion and a hood or head-protector, which are so constructed andadapted as to inclose the body of the wearer within an imperviouscovering, ex-

cluding water therefrom and preventing eX- posure of the body to thecold, while the lifepreserver attached thereto aids in keeping the Thelower extremities or foot portions of the body of the garment are provided with suitable weights, which serve to keep the body balanced in anupright position within the water, as will be hereinafter more fully setforth, and the essential features of the invention pointed out in theclaim.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification,Figure l is a side elevation of the complete suit as it appears whenattached to the body, showing also the position of same when in thewater, W representing the water-line. Fig. 2 is a vertical section ofthe garment and life-preserver, showing the position of the body withinthe same. Fig. 3 is a perspective of the body portion of the garmentdetached from the head-protector. Fig. 4. is a like view of thehead-protector or hood detached. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of thehood or head-protector, showing relative position of the parts whenattached to the body portion of the suit.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, A represents thehead-protector of the suit, which consists of a hood constructed fromany suitable waterproof material, and is provided with a cord orshirr-string, c, which passes through loops 6 around the opening of saidhood for the purpose of securely girdling or closing the same about theneck of the occupant. (See Fig. 4.)

D represents a glass or transparent plate secured in the upper centralportion of said hood for the purpose of affording the occupant thereof arange of vision, while 0 shows a series of perforated plates which aresecured in panels a slight distance below the transparent plate D, andare for the admission of air to the occupant of the suit, as clearlyshown in Figs. 1 and at.

F shows an apron of flexible impervious ma terial, which is locateddirectly back of the series of perforated plates, being attached atitslower edge to the hood A at a slight distance below the perforations andextending some distance above said perforations, the upper end or edgeof said apron remaining free, whereby said apron forms a gate orcut-off, preventing the surf or water from splashing through theperforations into the face of the occupant, but allowing the air tofreely pass within the perforations and over the upper edge of theapron. (See Figs. 2 and 5.)

B represents the body portion of the garment, which is also constructedfrom waterproof or impervious material, having formed integral therewiththe sleeves B B and leg portions B B, for the reception of the arms andlegs of the occupant.

The opening or neck portion Z, through which the body of the operatorpasses in applying. the garment, is provided around its mouth with aseries of loops, 6, through which passes a cord or shirr-string, c, forgirdling or drawing said opening close about the neck of the occupant,of the garment. (See Fig. 2.) The free end of the gathered-in portion Zencircles the lower portion of the head of the wearer, as shown in Figs.2 and 5.

It will be observed that the hand portions of the sleeves of the garmentare provided with thumbs 15, so as'to enable the operator to readilyhandle the shirr-strings in applying the garment, and to handle or graspobjects while in the water.

In Fig. 2, K represents a weight of suitable proportions, one of whichis placedorsecured in each of the foot portions of the garment, whichact as ballast to hold the body in an u pright or erect position whilefloating in the water.

E shows an ordinary 1ife-preserver,which is secured about the waist ofthe occupant of the suit for the purpose of aiding thesame tokeep afloatuntil rescue or assistance is rendered.

The manipulation required in applying the garment in case of accident orwhen desired is as follows: Theoperator, after first precuring thegarment, steps within the opening Z, and draws the garment upsufficiently (at the same time passing a leg into each leg of thegarment) to allow his arms to enter the sleeves of said garment, when itwill be in position to grasp the shirr-string and draw the opening closeabout the neck, securing the same in such position. The hood orhead-protector is then readily placed over the head of the operator andits shirr-string secured in a like manner about the neck, butoverlapping the neck portion Z of the body of the garment. Thelifepreserver is then secured to the waist of the operator over thegarment by means of the string provided therefor, when the outfit willbe completed.

It will be observed that when equipped with the foregoing devices theoccupant will be enabled, it cast into the water, to survive a muchlonger period than would be possible were the body exposed to the coldand water, asis the case where only the ordinary lifepreserver isemployed.

The advantages of this garment over others patented of this class are,first, simplicity of construction; second, the body part of the garmentextends from the feet to the neck of the what I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent. is

A lifesaving garment consisting of the body portion made of imperviousmaterial, and having legs, arms, and neckband formed integral therewith,and a gathering-cord for saidneckband, in combination with the head partor protector having the transparent plate D, the

series of perforated plates, the apron F, located back of saidperforated plates, having its lower edge only attached to saidprotector, and the gathering-cord 0, located at the lower end of saidprotector, wherebythe lower end of the protector is bound to the upperend of the body portion, substantially as and for the purposesspecified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE A. HILER.

Witnesses:

JACOB BAAR, HENRY BAAR.

